How to hire a news assistant

How to hire a news assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step news assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a news assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new news assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the news assistant you need to hire. Certain news assistant roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect news assistant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of news assistants.

   Type of News Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   News Assistant	Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.	$15-29
   Content Editor	A content editor is a professional who is responsible for proof-reading articles written by content writers and write blog posts to promote the products and services of an organization. Content editors are responsible for producing monthly newsletters and optimize written pieces to increase user engagement... Show more	$19-43
   Editorial Internship	An editorial intern is responsible for assisting the editorial team in publishing digital and media content, writing articles, and managing readers' reviews. Editorial interns must have excellent knowledge of the industry they work for, suggesting the latest trends and featured topics, taking notes of the tenured employees' advice and observations, and actively joining brainstorming sessions... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Assignment Desk
   • Video Content
   • B-Roll
   • Facebook
   • Local News
   • News Coverage
   • Twitter
   • Phone Calls
   • Control Room
   • Sound Bites
   • ABC
   • News Articles
   • Indesign
   • Press Releases

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage campaign performance through data analysis and reporting, with actionable takeaways per designate KPI.
   • Act as a stand-in onset for CNN's anchors and guests.
   • Shoot and edit video for CNN.
   • Log and review all clips for newscast
   • Report, film, and edit news stories for the KTSW website and YouTube channel.
   • Compose and proofread material for publication.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your news assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A news assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, news assistants' average salary in mississippi is 57% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level news assistants earn 47% less than senior-level news assistants.
   • Certifications. A news assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a news assistant's salary.

   Average news assistant salary

   $45,462yearly

   $21.86 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level news assistant salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

4. Writing a news assistant job description

   A news assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a news assistant job description:

   News assistant job description example

   Planned Parenthood is the nation's leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation's largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.
   
   Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.
   
   Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and Planned Parenthood Action Fund seek a News Assistant. This job reports to the Senior Director of News Content on the Content Innovation team of PPFA.
   Purpose:
   Access to high-quality, fact-based information about sexual and reproductive health is more essential than ever. Planned Parenthood's burgeoning News Content team delivers this by:
   ● Identifying and leveraging cross-divisional in-house expertise to use as primary sources
   ● Finding ways to reach our current supporter base, while searching for new audiences
   ● Applying best practices in journalism to show our audiences the sexual and reproductive health landscape the way we see it
   
   The News Assistant will provide editorial, operational and administration support for the News Content team and will be integral in the team's development and direction. This is a growth position job.
   
   Delivery :
   ● Work with the Senior Director to provide administrative support on News Content projects, including but not limited to: managing the review process, fact checking, quality control measures, transcription management, pre-interview facilitation, etc.
   ● Provide editorial support for written assets, including but not limited to: scripts, articles, social media copy, etc.
   ● Develop and maintain a system for newsgathering, using both internal and external sources
   ● Function as a liaison between internal stakeholders and the News Content team
   ● Create and maintain editorial calendars
   ● Compile and deliver research ahead of interviews
   
   Engagement:
   ● Partner with the Senior Director of News Content and the other team leaders to serve as the primary operations liaison and day to day team workflow
   ● Maintain and build solid working relationships with both internal and cross-functional teams.
   ● Prioritize, manage and move along multiple projects, anticipate project breakdowns, clarify needs to meet project goals.
   
   Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
   ● 2 years of directly related work experience, including experience in a newsroom
   ● Demonstrated research and writing skills
   ● Must have good editorial judgment, strong interest in news and current events, especially as it relates to sexual and reproductive health, and an exceptional attention to detail
   ● The ideal candidate is high energy, thrives in a fast paced work environment and loves to think on their feet
   ● Experience working under deadlines
   ● Ability to juggle multiple projects calmly and efficiently
   ● Excellent written and oral communication skills
   ● Collaborative work style; able to facilitate amongst diverse communities, teams and individuals
   ● Basic knowledge different media and how to most effectively use them
   
   TRAVEL : 0-25%
   Starting salary: $70K
   
   #LI-SY1
   
   Final offers for this job will be based on capabilities and will be made within the parameters of the PPFA compensation program. Total offer package to include generous vacation + sick leave + paid holidays, individual/family provided medical, dental and vision benefits effective day 1, life insurance, short/long term disability, paid family leave and 401k. We also offer voluntary opt in for Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Transportation/Commuter accounts.
   
   We value a truly diverse workforce and a culture of inclusivity and belonging. Our goal is to attract qualified candidates and encourage applications from all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We're committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, customer focus, and innovation.
   
   PPFA participates in the E-Verify program and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
   
   #LI-SY1
   *PDN-HR
   
   If denoted as NYC, DC, or both, this position is usually located in our New York City or DC office, but is remote while offices remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right news assistant for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with news assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit news assistants who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your news assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit news assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit news assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new news assistant

   Once you've found the news assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new news assistant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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